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Converting your loft is the cheapest way of extending your property. When carried out correctly, a converted loft can make for a cosy extra bedroom or the perfect study/office for you to get away from the other distractions of the house.

There’s a lot to consider when transforming one’s attic. Whether you’re taking a DIY approach or hiring professionals to do it for you, it pays to make thorough plans before making any lofty decisions. Here is a step-by-step guide that may help you when attacking your attic.

Check The Usability
Not all lofts are suitable for conversion. You should first make sure that the head height is greater than 2.2 m. You can measure this from the bottom of the ridge timber to the bottom of the ceiling joist. If too small, you may have to consider raising the roof.

You should also consider the pitch of the roof and whether it suits the purpose of your conversion. Measure the dimensions of your bed and wardrobe to get a good idea as to whether you could suitably place such furniture in your loft.

The final thing to consider is the roof structure. Pre-1960s houses can often be surprisingly much stronger – made of a frame-type roof. Post-1960s houses may often be less suitable, consisting of factory-made roof trusses. If this type of roof is the case, you may need to further strengthen it with extra steel beams first.

Seek Planning Permission
You don’t need planning permission for every loft conversion, but it’s best to be safe and check with your local planning department first. If you are raising the roof, you will need permission, as tis extension could create extra shade that blocks out someone’s garden. Similarly, if you’re altering the frame of the roof, your planning department may wish to inspect it to check that it meets safety regulations.

Come Up With A Budget
When converting your loft, you should look at budgeting for a minimum of £15,000. This covers your basic loft conversion including insulation, stairs, reinforcing the floor and connecting up utilities. Loft extensions can cost anything from £20,000 to £55,000. Costs may differ depending on whether you are hiring a company or doing it yourself.

Whether you save up the money yourself or borrow from a loans website, you should make sure that your budget is enough to cover the basic costs. A building surveyor or architect may be able to draw up a detailed plan including precise costs.

Note that a loft conversion can increase the worth of your property by 20%. In some cases mortgage companies may be willing to provide a loan for home improvements, which will be added to your mortgage.

Warn Your Insurance Company
If you have home insurance you should make sure you warn you provider before making a loft conversion. Some home insurance schemes will be invalidated if you make a change to your property without telling your insurance company. In some cases, your premiums may be raised although some conversions may have little effect on risks.

Insulation
Insulating your loft will stop it from losing heat in the winter. This is a requirement when converting your loft so that property complies with energy laws. There are two types of insulation – ‘cold roof’ and ‘warm roof’ insulation. ‘Cold Roof’ insulation is carried out with slab foam or rockwool insulation and can be taken on by a DIYer, but it can be a time consuming job. Professional companies have the ability to spray on insulation quickly and efficiently. They are much more suitable for ‘warm roof’ insulation which can be more complex.

You should check for any cracks or holes that may be losing you heat. A surveyor will be able to pick up on tiny details that may need addressing – sometimes a stray nail or ‘shiner’ can affect insulation or pose a risk to leaks. In some cases tiles may also need to be replaced.

Plumbing
If you are turning your loft into an upstairs bedroom, you may wish to fit an en suite bathroom or a toilet. Generally a plumbing company will be able to add on to an existing system, but there may be times when it needs upgrading. This may add on extra costs.

If water in other parts of the house already has a poor flow rate, you may also need to insert a pump. This will ensure that water is able to reach all parts of the house.

Adding In Stairs
Creating a staircase can be one of the more complex jobs when converting a loft, but may be necessary if you don’t want to have to climb up and down a ladder.

There are many requirements that must be met when building a staircase. The maximum step rise should be 220mm and each staircase should have no more than 16 steps (although most properties generally require no more than 13). Step depth should also be 220mm and the pitch should not be too sharply angled. Balustrading meanwhile must be a minimum of 900mm above the pitch line and any spindles should have a separation distance that a 100mm sphere cannot pass through. As for the roof above the stairs, this should be a minimum height of 2m, although in practice this can depend a lot on the layout.

When fitting stairs into small spaces, spiral staircases may be more appropriate, although generally this is more expensive. In some cases, altering the size of a room below may be needed to fit in a staircase.

New Ceiling Joists
As explained earlier, some post-1960s houses may need extra ceiling support in order to comply with regulations. Rolled steel joists may be needed to give the roof more structural integrity. In most cases, a structural engineer will have to examine the roof to tell which changes will need to be made. Adding in windows and doors may require extra joists in order to distribute the load.

Windows
The most straightforward method of window is a rooflight. These follow the pitchline of the roof and let in the most sunlight (they’re also great at night for staring up at the stars). Adding a rooflight may involve removing battens and tiles, as well as rafters. A frame will then be added into the space for the pane to go into.

Dormer windows are more complex but may be more appropriate where the pitch angle is too sharp. They can help extend a loft and give it more space (although this will be something that will have to meet planning permission). Dormers aren’t something that can be taken on by your average DIYer and often require opening up the roof and cutting specific timbers to size on site. Some loft installation companies will produce a dormer off-site and then lift it into place. This is a quicker installation process and allows for easy weatherproofing.

Fire Safety
Habitable loft conversions need to have an easy escape in the event of a fire. If you are having a ladder leading up to the loft, there will have to be an outside fire escape staircase somewhere as an alternative quick escape, either leading off a dormer or another part of the roof that isn’t pitched. You may also want to fit a smoke alarm and a fire resistant door. Fire safety regulations may vary depending on how high up your loft conversion is (a loft extension on a bungalow may not require as stringent laws as a two storey building).

Your home is the one place in the world where you should be able to totally relax. This is the one sure place where you can enjoy total privacy, get away from the stresses of the world, and generally put your worries to rest. To make absolutely sure your home is a centre of peace and relaxation, you need to make it as secure as possible. Here are our best tips for burglar-proofing the doors in your home…

At the very least, all your home’s exterior doors need to be totally solid and kick-proof. This means getting solid wood doors, or at least doors with a solid core to them. There are also various fibreglass and metal models you can choose from, but I’m sure you’ll agree that these are a little ugly. Furthermore, reinforced steel doors, while being totally kick-proof, need regular maintenance to stop them rusting. Have a look around your exterior doors, and consider how they’d hold up if someone were to kick them.

Install a Deadbolt
There’s an old saying that a door is “only as strong as its lock”. This is certainly true! If the lock on your door doesn’t extend deep enough into the frame, then even the thickest metal doors can be opened with one swift kick. To make sure your exterior doors are as secure as possible, it’s essential that all of them are fitted with dependable deadbolts. There are many options here, ranging from the simplest designs all the way to smart home locks like the ones that can be controlled by the Vivint Sky panel. If your doors don’t have deadbolts, then start shopping!

You might have the most secure deadbolt ever designed on your front door. However, if there’s a big enough window in your door, nothing’s stopping a burglar from smashing the glass, reaching through the frame, and unlocking your door just as easily as you lock it up at night. Yes, those big windows in your door may look appealing and let the light in. However, they’re also going to act as a temptation for thieves. Replace these with either a windowless model, or one with windows that are too small to reach through.

Don’t Forget your Frame
The door frame and doorjamb are just as important to your home security as the door itself, so make sure you’re not overlooking these either. Again, one hard kick to a poor-quality doorjamb or frame can cause your door to swing open like a clam. If the strike plate on your door frame is thin and weak, then it’s wise to install a deeper box strike. If you weren’t aware, that’s the steel box which houses your deadbolt when it’s drawn. Use high-quality screws that burrow fairly deep into the wall, rather than just a simple doorjamb. If you want to be 110% sure, you can reinforce the doorjamb itself with steel, helping it withstand any kicks or shoulder-barges that burglars might use to try and break in.

Every home has weak points because they are hard to prevent. The truth is that you can’t stop someone entering your home if they set their mind to the task. All you can do is make your home look less appealing so that the risks outweighs the rewards. There are plenty of ways to do this, but the best option is to tighten up the weak areas in your home. That way, a burglar will have to expel more energy to break in and steal your valuables. And, when they have to work harder, they have to use up more time and run the risk of getting caught.

Here are the areas you want to check and improve if you find any issues.

Windows
Your windows might look like they are too small to fit a burglar, but the truth is burglars are smaller than you think. They can fit through a variety of gaps, and a window is their favorite. Any windows that are old need replacing. Old windows are prone to degradation, which means a small amount of force can easily break them. Plus, old windows tend to use single pane glass. Double glazing is much safer because a thief has to go through two panes of glass to smash a window.

Doors
Conservatory doors are the main culprits here. These doors are mainly plastic or made from a thin piece of material that is easy to shimmy open. Where possible, you want solid wood doors on the front and back of your property. Wood doors are much harder to break through because wood is rigid and durable. If you can’t, you need sturdy locks that are hard to break or pick. Thieves have a variety of tricks they can use to open a door, and you want to negate these tricks. A deadbolt is always a good bet because they are hard to break and impossible to pick.

Garage Door
Most garages are connected to the property, which means you can get into the house through the garage. Although this is common knowledge, homeowners persist with lackluster doors that are easy to open. In fact, some of them open up with a push. To avoid this danger, install electric gates and doors over any other alternative. Electric ones should only open up when you press the button. And, if you are the only one that has the button, no one should be able to open the door. A lock is another option, but that can affect your accessibility.

The Roof
The roof is a big one because most homeowners don’t know there is a problem with the roof. After all, you can’t see it until you are up there. Burglars can see it though because it is their job. And they will use the opening to get into the upstairs of your home and ransack the place. Your best option is to check the roof for any damage. If the slates are in place, and everything looks good, there should be no cause for alarm.